Improvement in tops for children s carriages



2 sheets-sneer 1. L. SCHMETZER.

, Top for Childrens Garrages. l No.'216,462. Patented June I0, |879.

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MMP Hd GH Sh ..0 Lr o [ravida/1 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

LOUIS SOHMETZER, OF ROTHENBURG-ON-THE-TAUBER, BAVARIA,GERMANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOPS FOR CHILDRENS CARRIAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,462, dated June 10, 1879; application filed April 22, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concern ,i

Be it known that I, LOUIS SCHMETZER, of Rothenburg-on-the-Tauber, in the Kingdom of Bavaria and Empire of Germany, have invented a new and Improved Top for Childrens Carriages, of which the following is a specilication.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a rear elevation of a childs carriage, with top open at the back; Fig. 2, a front view of the carriage, showing the top closed in front; Fi g3, a side elevation of the carriage, showing side of top open. Figs. ei and 5 are rear views of the carriage, showing the back curtains respectively in opened and closed position; and Fig. 6 is a side View of the carriage, showing a modified arrangement for holding the side curtain in open position.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

The main objection to the tops of childrens carriages consists in the insufficient means for fully protecting the child against the wind or sun. The old styles of tops either expose the child too much to the Wind or sun, or by clos ing the top entirely exclude the air too much, so as to render it uncomfortable for the child.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved top for childrens or other carriages, in which the front, sides, or back of the top may be opened or closed, one independently of the other, by a simple and convenient arrange ment of the top, and thereby the vchild protected in a very effective manner against any inconveniences arising from wind or sun, While still admitting the required quantity of fresh air.

The invention consists of a top for childrens or other carriages, in which each side and back curtain is made of one continuous piece, which is attached to the top of the stays and to the corners of the carriagebody, so thateach curtain may be separately opened or closed by means of suitable devices. v

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the supporting-stays of my improved carriagetop; and B, the body of a childs or other carriage, to which the stays are pivoted in the usual manner. The -upper portion, a, ofthe top is permanently attached to the stays A A, while the side curtains, g, and the back curtains, h, are attached to the stays A at their upper parts and to the body B at the rear eorners,f, of the same, as shown in the drawings. This attachment of the side and back curtains leaves the lower corners of the same free, and admits of their being fastened by means of eyes or rings n n to Xed buttons o at the sides and back ol` the body. Each side curtain, g, is made in a continuous piece with onehalf of the back h, the back being centrally divided into two halves, which forms an essential feature of my improved top. The side curtains, g, as well as the symmetrical halves of the back curtain, h, are provided with elastic bands or straps m, of rubber or other suitable material, which straps extend from the free ends of the sides and backs diagonally in upward direction, preferably at the under side of the same, as shown in Figs. l and 3, so as to draw up the sides and backs as soon as the rings or eyes n are detached from the fixed buttons o. One section of the back h laps over f the other when they are closed, they bei n g th en connected bymeans of buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, or other equivalent devices, as shown in Fig. 5. The side and back curtains of the top may also, in place oi' the elastics, bc secured in open position by means of leather straps or cords t, which are attached to fixed side and top buttons, 0', of the stays, as shown in Figs. 4.- and 6, though for most purposes the diagonalelastic straps are preierable, as thereby the upper buttons are dispensed with, and the opening of the side and back curtains obtained in automatical manner at the moment when they are released from the lower buttons.

The carriage-top is also provided with front curtains, p, which also overlap each other, and

which are tied or otherwise connected at their lower parts when closed, as shown in Fig. 2, and held in open position, by means of strings p' at opposite sides of the front stay. The front curtains, p, may also be` arranged with elastic straps r, that are arranged parallel to the lower edges, and which cause, in analogous manner as the elastics ot' the side and back curtains, the automatic opening of the front curtains as soon as the connecting device of the same is released. For the front curtains, however, it is preferable to use either fastening strings or straps, as thereby a better and neater gathering up of,V the front curtains is obtained.

. By this construction of the top, the saine may not only be closed tightly all around, so that the child is fully protected against the Wind, sun, flies, &c., when asleep, but it may also be opened on the side and back 3 or one side may be closed and the other opened; or the front and side may be closed and the back opened, &c., as desired, according to the direction of the wind or sun. By opening the back curtains, while keeping the side and front curtains closed, the attendant has the child always fully Within View, and can observe it in a better manner than by the present construction ofthe top, which requires the bending forward and looking in at the front.

The top may be made of any desired fabric, and readily adapted to different forms of the top.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In carriage-tops, the combination of the side and back curtains, which are attached to the stays, with elastic bands or straps that extend from their free corners diagonally up ward to admit the automatical opening of the curtains as soon as they are released from th e buttons, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a carriage-top having a fixed top part with side curtains, which are" the carriage, and adjustable at their free lower ends, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

3. In carriage-tops, the combination of the supportingstays, having a n*permanently attached top part, with side and back curtains that are made of one continuous piece, and capable of adjustment at the sides and kat the middle ofthe back, and with adjustable front curtains, substantially as described.

4In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

LOUIS SGHMETZER.

Witnesses: W. F. G. GEIssE, Y

l?. SCHRENYANER. 

